SC defends ‘flip-flop’ on JBC decision

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court defended Monday its decision to allow 2 representatives of Congress to sit in the Judicial and Bar Council in voting for the shortlist of candidates for Chief Justice.

SC spokesperson Atty. Gleo Guerra said the High Court did not flip-flop in its decision to suspend the provision making immediately executory its July 17 resolution that allowed only 1 congressional representative in the JBC.

The SC decision earlier affirmed former Solicitor General Frank Chavez’s petition that only 1 congressional representative can sit in the 7-man JBC.

Guerra said the general rule on SC decision is that it is not immediately executory until made final except in the case of the July 17 resolution. She said that since the “immediately executory” provision was lifted, this means that the status quo in the JBC will remain.

In an interview, Chavez said the SC’s latest decision allowing the 2 representatives from the legislature to sit in the JBC is unclear.